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Zanardi to make full-time motorsport return

21 January 2014 – Alex Zanardi will return to racing by contesting the 2014 Blancpain Sprint Series as a works BMW driver.

Zanardi, 47, is to drive a BMW Z4 GT3 run by ROAL Motorsport, the squad he raced for during the 2004 European Touring Car Championship and the World Touring Car Championship from 2005 to 2009.

The car will feature the modified hand controls that the Italian and his engineers tweaked during his return to top-level racing after losing both legs in a horrific Champ Car accident at the Lausitzring back in 2001.

He will take part in six of the seven rounds, driving alone in the one-hour races, while he also works towards a Paralympic return at Rio de Janeiro after winning two gold medals in hand cycling at the 2012 London games.

"When I took to the track in the BMW M3 DTM in 2012, I immediately got itchy fingers again," said Zanardi.

"Ever since that moment I have been toying with the idea of returning to racing. Together with BMW we have looked at various options. I am even more pleased that it has worked out with my friends at ROAL Motorsport."

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